Bread-proving closet.



E. BIGGS.

' BREAD PROVING CLOSET. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 25, 1911.

1,037,417, Patented Sept 3, 1912.

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EDWARD BIGGS, on NEW YORK, N. Y., Assrenoa 'ro JOHN JABUBG & HUGO NEWYORK, N. Y., A FIRM.

JABURG, or

BREAD-PROVING CLOSET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

Application filed March 25, 1911. Serial No. 616,986.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Brccs, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at the borough of Richmond, in the city and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements inBread-Proving Closets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to proving closets, particularly such as are usedin the making of bread, and it consists principally in the means bywhich I secure a convenient and complete closure of the closet, so thatcold air will be prevented from striking the articles such as loaves ofdoughwaiting the time when they shall be placed in the oven for baking.

Figure 1, is a front view of a device embodying my invention, a part ofthe curtain having been cut away to exhibit the interior. Fig. 2, is aside view of the device of Fig. 1, as it appears when closed. Figs. 3, 1and 5, are detail views of sections, one on line :0, m, one on line 2 7and oneon line 2 z.

The proving closet, is primarily a box, preferably rectangular in form,some of them about 56 inches long, 68 inches high and 27 inches wide ordeep, though I do not limit myself to those or any other particulardimensions, nor to angularity in the form, though that is customary,convenient and preferable. Within are shelves 20, in such number andarrangement as are desired. The sides 6, 7, back 8, top 9, and bottom10, are preferably constructed of wood, as that is a poor conductor ofheat, and mounted upon rollers 11, 13, 14: &c., for convenience, thoughthese are not absolutely essential nor is portability. The front of thebox is not closed by a door, for that is inconvenient, because of thespace it occupies when open or when being opened. The word front is usedto denote that part of the closet at which articles are inserted orwithdrawn. The front edges of the sides 6, 7, are preferably smooth andstraight. At the top or bottom of the closet, I mount a curtain 15, onbrackets 16, 17 preferably so set that the front of the roller issomewhat back of the front edge of the top. This curtain may besupported on the ordinary spring shade or curtain roller of commerce.The curtain is preferably a little longer than the closet so that it mayreach to the bottom and project slightly thereunder, and is of a widthto entirelv close the front opening of the closet and project over. theface of the sides as plainly shown in Figs. 3 and t. At the lower ed ethe curtain is preferably provided with. a. stick 18 reaching across itfrom side to side.

Qn each side of the closetI mount holding strips or batons, 19, hingedto the closet and adapted to turn ver and upon the front face of theadjacent side of the closet. They are quite narrow, preferably not muchwider than twice the thickness of the closet wall, and of a lengthaboutequal to that of the closet. They are so set (as shown) that whenturned inward they will clamp the edges of the curtain tightly againstthe front edges of the closet. At the lower end they are preferablyprovided with toe pieces, 21, 22, which, as the strips are turned inwardto clamp the curtain, will impinge against the curtain stick and carryit under the closet wall, thereby drawing the curtain tightly againstthe edge of the bottom, and the fact that the curtain roller (in the oneshown) is mounted to the rear of the top edge, will insure that thecurtain is tightly drawn against the top edge and thus the closure ismade complete.

To hold the clamping or holding strips in the closed position, as shownin Fig. 2, and at the right side of Fig. 1, I preferably provide turnbuttons 24. Having drawn down the curtain and secured its side by theclamping strip, the buttons are turned and bearing against the stripsand the closet walls, they hold the strips in the desired position.

It is manifest that a proving closet thus equipped may be placed wherethere is very little space beyond that actually occupied by its bulkwhen closed. It may be readily closed so that if filled with pans ofbread, set there to rise somewhat before they are baked, the action ofthe yeast will not be hampered by a chance blast of air blowing overthem, the dough will be protected from the dust such a blast might carryand the full purpose of a proving closet is accomplished, with a verysimple and economical and nevertheless very complete means for closingthe front. The space which would be occupied by doors is saved, theopening of the joints by the warping of the doors is avoided, theannoyance of their swinging back and forth and sometime striking theattendants is avoided, the completeness of the closure is promoted andeconomy in manufacture is secured. I

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a proving closet, the combination with the walls of an open frontcloset, of a curtain adapted toextend across that open front, andentirely close it and to project over the edges of the top, bottom andsides, which edges are adapted to permit said ourtain to be smoothlystretched over them, narrow holding strips secured to and pivotallymounted on the sides of the closet, and adapted to shut over and bearupon and clamp the side edges of the curtain to the closet and means forholding the said narrow strips in position, all substantially as setforth.

2. In a proving closet, the combination with the walls of an open frontcloset, of a curtain roller mounted at one end of the closet andslightly to the rear of the front edge of the closet, a curtain mountedon said roller and adapted to extend across that open front, narrowholding strips secured to and pivotally mounted on the closet andadapted to shut over and clamp the side edges of the curtain to thecloset and means for holding the said narrow strips in position, allsubstantially as setforth.

3. In a proving closet, the combination with the walls of an open frontcloset, of a curtain adapted to extend across that open front, narrowholding strips mounted on the closet and adapted to shut over and clampthe sides of the curtain, a toe piece carried by the holding strip andadapted as described, to fold the curtain underneath the closet, andmeans for holding the said narnow strip in position all substantially asset forth. 7

4. In a proving closet, the combination with the walls of an open frontcloset, of a curtain adapted to extend across that open front, andprovided with a curtain stick at its free end, narrow holding stripsmounted on the closet and adapted to shut over and clamp the sides ofthe curtain, toe pieces carried by the holding strips andadapted, asdescribed, to impinge against the curtain stick and fold-the curtainaround the edge of the closet and hold it against said edge, and meansfor holding the said narrow strips in position, all substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this Qi" day of March 1911..

EDIVARD BIGGS.

\Vitnesses A. G. N. Vnmnmfx, RUDOLPH FENNEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for in cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

